The two mavericks, Arun Chanda and Satyajit Mukherjee, are the brains behind the promising new hub for Asian cuisine in the capital, Ahoy Asia. Ask them how it came about and they will start jamming. While Mukherjee, the creative artist will get into the musical rhythm on whatever he can lay his hands on, Chanda, a culinary wizard, puts his beats into words. The message is clear: there is a passion for food, music, fun and creativity, all rolled into one to make A!A.
The walls of the restaurant scream the message loud and clear, but it is the food that perfectly completes the picture. A lot of travel, thought and experience has gone into what is truly a prolific menu. Chanda, a chef himself, has designed the menu which offers delightful dishes of Xinjiang, Sichuan and Canton regions of China. The menu then travels through Mongolia, Myanmar, Tibet, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan.
While the Okonomiyaki pancake, a unique import of the national favourite of Japan, will leave you with a burst of flavours, the Malaysian Lamb Murtabak, the Xinjiang Belik Kawap and Chuanr bring alive the rustic flavours of the roadsides of Asia. A helping of the Grilled Prawns with Walnut Pesto and the Asian version of Fish’ n’ Chips will dazzle you with a whiff of contemporary originality.
For vegetarians, there are a range of appetisers like the Oriental Greens Tempura, Wok Tok Sake Mushrooms with Chilly Beans and Crispy Lotus Stems Honey Chilli among others.
What makes A!A stand out is the introduction of the Uyghur cuisine from the Xinjiang region of China, which melds the spicy flavours of its native Islamic populace and neighbours with the tastes and textures of traditional China.
From Frozen Sour Apples and Spiced Pears to Po Cha (Tibetan Butter Tea), the bartenders present some of the most invigorating of mixes concocted from the freshest of ingredients.
The Banana Spring Rolls, Mango Sago, Darsaan and the Great Wall of Chocolate will give you sweet dreams till your next visit.
The two enterprising partners sign off saying, “Our main focus was to create a fun family space where our guests can savour good food in a convivial atmosphere. Hence, there is no lounge with dim lights and no emphasis on the bar area. We aim to fuse classic and modern techniques of cooking that would suit the local and global palate. We are proponents of ‘smart dining’, and we strive to ensure that you have an unforgettable meal experience along with excellent value for your money.”
-The Sunday Standard